Kayle's Top 10 rant left me thinking about why I read what tech marketing stuff I do.. and how so often it just feels like wading thru dribble in an effort to do my job and be an "in-the-know" marketer. Full disclosure: I am not a #s girl. I managed to get by just fine in all my math classes, BUT it was never without some extra mental gymnastics required to get my brain to do things it just does not naturally do. Gimme a paper to write, no problem! Even after a big night out, I could come home and crank out something reasonably coherent and creative for the next day. But give me a calculus problem set...and hello Houston. I'd need to FOCUS - brow furrowed and hailing as forever genius whoever popped that eraser on top of those pencils. I offer that insight as a way of prefacing my question below, that I am not someone who naturally digs data. And who so appreciates any Jedi-mind-tricks that lure me into reading and loving it. ;-)

OkCupid's been all the rage for the oh-so-engaging data they serve up on their blog. Granted, it certainly helps that they're reporting on a topic of mass appeal and universal interest....BUT, I'd also wager a bet that it has to do with how flippin' engaging is the prose that accompanies it. After all I can't imagine that research pioneer Dr. Kinsey would carry readers along quite as swiftly w/his academic style as does Christian Rudder with his humor and irreverence. (And to cut about 5 of you off at the knees right now, I know enough about Kinsey to reference him because I never miss a Chris O'Donnell MOVIE!)

Which leads me to a question for yee marketers out there who read more than a few research reports yourself: who puts out GOOD stuff like that for us tech marketers? Meaning data and reports that are credible, engaging and help us do our jobs and stay up with the latest-and-greatest...BUT that don't feel like a chore (or bore) to read? I have been hard-pressed to find many....and would WELCOME any suggestions you all may be willing to share.